The influence of the Rothschild family on the landscape is not as well known as the influence which members of it had as financiers, though, between them, they created 100 gardens in Europe. Many of the family have been enthusiastic and skilled gardeners, creating gardens and parklands in England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Israel. Design styles used by the Rothschilds ranged from wide open parkland to elaborate formal bedding. The author, who gives a personal insight into the gardens and parks, is an internationally‐recognized naturalist whose interest in and extensive knowledge of wild flowers and grassland gardening is well known. She is credited with having invented the meadow garden. Some of her achievements can be seen in the chapter on Ashton ‐ her own garden in Northamptonshire.
Lionel de Rothschild has written the chapter on Exbury, his home, and has provided many of the excellent photographs in the book along with Andrew Lawson who possesses the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal for Horticultural Photography. Kate Garton, a gardener and garden designer, has undertaken the major part of the research for the book. Together, this group of contributors to this very well produced and presented publication, printed in Italy, has clearly made an excellent team.
The principal gardens and parks are identified as well as the principal members of the family involved in garden developments. Important features of the gardens are highlighted and the effects of two world wars are noted. Reference is made to the present situation in relation to the remaining Rothschild gardens. An abbreviated family tree shows the principal Rothschild gardeners with their gardens ranging from the eighteenth century to date.
The book illustrates, in particular, an important part of garden history ‐ the Victorian and Edwardian period ‐ and provides a valuable range of material for students of garden design and garden history. In addition, there is a useful record in the appendix of species and cultivars developed by the Rothschilds and for which they obtained international recognition in many cases.
The bibliography is arranged in chapter order with sub‐arrangement by order of citation in the text, apart from Chapter 3, covering Exbury, where there appears to be a rather haphazard arrangement of additional readings. The index, while adequate in relation to the Rothschild family, the gardens and the parks, does not include any references to the many species and cultivars referred to throughout the text. Readers may well have welcomed entries on these items.
This is an interesting, pleasantly written publication, which provides some useful information both on the Rothschild family’s horticultural knowledge and skills as well as useful information on some of the Rothschild gardens and parks which is not readily available from elsewhere. The book is one for the “general reader” rather than the professional gardener/garden designer, but it is of value to both. It justifies a place in public, as well as special and academic libraries and is reasonably priced at £25.
